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“It feels good,” said Wolverines head coach John Adams. “We talked to the kids all week about focusing on this game (with a South Jersey final to play next week). To our community and our school this game is a big one for us, 102 years going strong and we know what it’s like to have that trophy taken away from us in the past. It’s good to keep it here in Woodstown and it’s good to be 11-0.”

Senior halfback Semaj Thomas led the team, picking up 185 yards on 21 carries, scoring two touchdowns and adding two interceptions.

“I was just thinking run hard, just keep getting positive yards, always move forward and never backwards,” said Thomas. “This is the first I played against Salem in my four years. Junior year I was hurt, sophomore year I didn’t really play much and freshman year I was hurt too. It just meant a lot actually playing in this game and being a part of something special.”

Thomas’ first touchdown came on a 2-yard run early in the second quarter, and he scored again on the next series from four yards out.

In the fourth quarter, Thomas almost added a third touchdown when he broke a 58-yard run, but was tackled at the Salem 1-yard line. Junior Steven Mitchell closed out the drive on the next play.

Wolverines quarterback Jared Carney went 4-for-7 passing for 52 yards and Sam Nowicki was 2-for-4 for 33 yards. The Wolverines ended the game with 376 total yards, 291 on the ground.

Salem was held to just 66 total yards by Woodstown’s “Blue Goo” defense.

“They moved the ball very well,” said Salem first-year head coach Dennis Thomas. “Our defense played good in spurts. Our offense was nonexistent. Kudos to their defense, they are tough. Defense wins championships, that’s why they are there now. They were able to shut out Glassboro, Penns Grove, us.... We couldn’t do much against them.”

For the residents of Woodstown, this game was special as the team honored late volunteer assistant coach, Jeff “Bucky” Lewis, who passed away from colon cancer in May. Before the game, Lewis’ family was led to the coin toss by the senior captains. At halftime, the family was presented a plaque which led into the Two-Minute Warning Fundraiser, where volunteers ran into the stands and collected $2,800.

Woodstown extended its program-best win total and will close out a historic season in the South Jersey Group II championship game next Saturday at 1 p.m., where it will take on Haddonfield at Rowan University.